Last August 10, I confirmed that I was positive for COVID-19. A week before that, I knew I was already positive because I lost my sense of smell and taste. But that wasn't the worst of it. I wouldn't even wish this for my worst enemy. It scared the living hell out of me and I am someone who already got both her lungs collapsed 10 years ago. Difficulty in breathing is the WORST symptom anyone can experience. Because even if it's not as painful as fractures or stomachaches, it will definitely stop you whole body from working.

My symptoms started like the common cold. It probably was just a common cold at first but I got exposed to the virus with my immune system down. So what was supposed to be a 2-week common cold (with a little cough), turned for the worse. On the 10th of August, I got the confirmation that I was positive for COVID. And, as if on cue, the symptoms started to get worse. I will forever be thankful for my sister who took care of me during the whole ordeal, and I am very thankful as well that she didn't get the virus and swabbed negative. 

On the day of the swab, I had to wait at our local health center (I live in the Philippines so we have primary care before you can go to a hospital) for about 2 hours. Within that time frame, I was coughing so much that I felt like I was going to cough out my lungs. I have declared to them that someone in our house was also tested positive and was admitted to the hospital. But it didn't seem to matter all that much to them because the seat they gave me was beside pregnant women. Being a nurse, I knew they were at risk of contracting the virus. I tried to get another seat but they had a "sequence" to be called so I had to stay where I was told to sit. What I did was I turned my back on the pregnant women and tried to drag my chair away from the people. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough space to get to the 6ft social distancing protocol (the center HAD space but they didn't properly place the chairs to have social distancing). I was coughing so hard that I knew the BHW (the people in the center who helps out), the nurses, and everyone in there heard me almost vomiting because of the cough but they did NOTHING. So I'm just hoping that I didn't spread the virus that day (I was wearing a KN95 mask). I got swabbed and the nurse said IN FRONT OF ME "ew". Like it was the most disgusting thing she saw. I wasn't just MAD. She had no ethics, no respect for the patients. I wanted to say something but my cough made it hard for me to talk (couldn't even finish a sentence). 

The next day, I got the call that I was indeed positive. I was already having some difficulty breathing at that time because of the excessive coughing. I couldn't sleep because every 30 minutes, I'd have a 3-5 minute coughing fit that I literally have no time to catch my breath. I couldn't eat either because of the coughing. I would vomit everything I ate because it just wouldn't stay down. And I thought that was the worst of the symptoms.

The next three days were the worst of my symptoms. My cough was so dry that I feel like my throat was closing in and I can feel my lungs getting heavier by the minute. It was harder to breathe and I was nebulizing almost the whole day. I was sleeping sitting up because that was the only position where I can breathe. I had my meds but it didn't feel like it was working. My sister would also wake up whenever I have my coughing fit. She couldn't sleep either. For three days, I thought I would have to go to the hospital. I thought I wouldn't make it at home. 

Then two days later things started to get better. Thanks to my antibiotics and the nebulizer, I was able to get rid of the stuck phlegm. It was starting to get easier to breathe. But of course, I still have to quarantine for another week. Today marks the end of my 14-day quarantine. But I'm still not allowed to go out. By our protocol, I have to do a 21-day quarantine because I was positive. So, I'd be out by September.

Anyway, I was so thankful that it was just moderate symptoms that I didn't need to go to the hospital for. I was so scared during the past weeks, was so angry at myself. I didn't know where I got it because the last time I was out (like far out) was July 27th, a good 2 weeks before the symptoms showed up. Maybe it was the time when I went to the market to buy groceries, maybe it was someone else in the family, maybe we were just unlucky. Either way, I am thankful that everyone who tested positive in our house (5 out of 12 people) have gotten better now and are just awaiting the clearance to be able to go back to our daily routines.

I'm sharing this because I want to show people that COVIS-19 is real. It is real and it is a terrifying virus. It literally can stop you from breathing and will kill you. So please, wear your mask at all times, wash your hands, don't go out unless necessary, and if you have flu-like symptoms, immediately get tested. Even if I had moderate symptoms, it could've turned for the worst anytime. I could've ended up in the ICU with tubes in me. 

For everyone, especially my fellow Filipinos, please do not be afraid to get swabbed when you have colds. COVID is better treated early than later. It is NOT TRUE that they will fake your result to be positive for monetary gains. It is NOT TRUE that they are manipulating the statistics just to say that there are a lot of COVID cases. There ARE a lot. There are THOUSANDS of people who test positive for the virus. Some are just lucky they get mild to moderate symptoms that they don't require hospitalization. Please, stay safe everyone. If you can get vaccinated, get the vaccine ASAP. Best to have the most protection you can get against this sinister virus.